Kuromi

Kuromi (Japanese: クロミ, Kuromi) is a fictional rabbit mascot created by the Japanese company Sanrio. Making her debut in 2005, Kuromi was created to act as a self-proclaimed rival to My Melody and take on an antagonistic role in the anime series Onegai My Melody. Contrasting with her counterpart, Kuromi is known for wearing a black jester-style hood with a pink skull design and pointed ears. Another distinctive design element is her pointed tail. She is often seen with her sidekick Baku.

Merchandising History
The "Kuromi" series of merchandise was first launched on September 14, 2005, being Kuromi's first merchandise appearance separated from My Melody. Further merchandise in this series was released on October 26 and December 14 of the same year.

Legacy
While Kuromi was created to act as an antagonist in Onegai My Melody, her popularity quickly outgrew the show, which has since led to her becoming part of the main Sanrio lineup of characters. This has led to her featuring prominantly in merchandising campaigns and other Sanrio media. This includes starring in her own manga beginning in 2016, The Funny Kuromi-chan. In October that same year, Kuromi was also made Sanrio's "Friend of the Month".

To celebrate Kuromi's 15th anniversary in 2020 various pieces of merchandise were released, including a book that charts Kuromi's history, as well as a themed popup cafe.

In 2021, Kuromi placed 5th in Sanrio's 36th annual character popularity poll, placing her above Hello Kitty for the first time. Prior to this, Kuromi had consistently placed in the top 10 since 2018. , as well as ranking 5th place in 2006 and 2010.